that he will ONLY play first base, WON’T serve as a DH and intends to stay in the National League leads me to think the Orioles will rightfully pass on his services. I think I’d pass on Dunn too — unless I ran a National League club, that is.

The most recent name to pop up is first baseman Derrek Lee, who finished the season in Atlanta but struggled with a thumb injury throughout 2010 and recently underwent successful surgery. Lee made $13 million and some change last year between the Cubs and Braves, but he won’t command anywhere near that kind of salary this winter. That makes him a potential Oriole. The fact that he played with the Cubs is, of course, also an attraction to Andy MacPhail. Derrek Lee is good with the bat and the glove. He’s not great with either, but he’s reliable enough to warrant interest providing his thumb injury isn’t an issue. And I assume he’ll squeeze 3-years and $30 million out of someone, but if those numbers don’t come along soon, a 3-year, $24 million offer from the Orioles might good enough.

There are whispers that Johnny Damon and the Orioles have some kind of mutual interest if the Orioles will guarantee him a certain amount of at bats and/or playing time, but I have to assume Damon would be a late January signing if the Birds don’t re-sign Corey Patterson to serve as the club’s fourth outfielder. Damon is interested mainly in Tampa Bay and if Pena leaves, he’d make good sense for the short term with the Rays. Failing that, though, Damon wouldn’t be a bad addition in Baltimore if, in fact, they have a role that keeps him satisfied.

There have also been whispers of trades involving shortstops J.J. Hardy or Jason Bartlett, with the Orioles facing the inevitable prospect of having to part company with a young pitcher of the David Hernandez/Chris Tillman ilk. I don’t think Hernandez or Tillman